Taking pride in Old Glory

Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 08:00 AM.

Tuesday morning I was walking out of the Holley Building at Florida State University Panama City into a steady rain. I noticed a man over by the flag poles. He appeared to be doing some maintenance work on the U.S. flag.

The Stars and Stripes were draped partially over his shoulder (keeping it off the ground). I knew that a group of people helped maintain the flag on a volunteer basis. I started to get into my vehicle to leave, but something inside me told me to go speak to the man. There was no inconvenience on my part as I work for FSU.

I went up to the fellow and asked if I could help. He told me no thanks, that he thought he had it. I then told him I appreciated him coming out to help with the flags. Standing there in the miserable, cold rain, he replied, “I appreciate the opportunity to do it.”

I paused for a moment, taking in what he just said, and replied, “Yeah that’s right. That’s right.”

DUANE GOREY Panama City

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Tuesday morning I was walking out of the Holley Building at Florida State University Panama City into a steady rain. I noticed a man over by the flag poles. He appeared to be doing some maintenance work on the U.S. flag.

The Stars and Stripes were draped partially over his shoulder (keeping it off the ground). I knew that a group of people helped maintain the flag on a volunteer basis. I started to get into my vehicle to leave, but something inside me told me to go speak to the man. There was no inconvenience on my part as I work for FSU.

I went up to the fellow and asked if I could help. He told me no thanks, that he thought he had it. I then told him I appreciated him coming out to help with the flags. Standing there in the miserable, cold rain, he replied, “I appreciate the opportunity to do it.”

I paused for a moment, taking in what he just said, and replied, “Yeah that’s right. That’s right.”